Refrigeration



l. B. ROSS REFRIGERATION Filed April 29, 1927 9% A ORNEY Patented Dec.10, 1929 PATENT OFFICE ISIDOR IBERTBAM ROSS or nnw YORK, N. Y.

REFRIGERATION Application filed April 29,

This invention-isan improvement in refrigerants, methods ofrefrigeration and refrigerating apparatus, the invention relating moreparticularly to refrigerants capable of use in substantially the samemanner as ice blocks, and capable of regeneration.

Usual methods of refrigeration'are with ice, or by evaporating avolatile liquid or solid refrigerant, as for instance carbon dioxide (COsul hur dioxide, (S0 or ammonia. In the 'ormer case refrigeration is dueto the heat absorbed by the melting ice, which changes form, beingconverted into water. Refrigeration continues only so long as there isice to melt, and the duration of refrigeration is relatively short,depending upon the quantity of ice, and the rate of melting, and ofsteadily diminishing intensity.

In ,the latter case, refrigeration is due to the abs rption of heat bythe expanding gas,

and to' perate economically, the gas should be recovered andrecompressed. The process is expensive, requires complicated apparatus,

a continued use of power, and is not well adapted for the home. 1

One of the primary objects of the present invention is the provision ofa refrigerant in a form such that it may be dispensed in units of anyconvenient size, which may be handled in the same manner as blocks ofice. Another object is the provision of a unit of the characterspecified, capableof being regenerated, thereby to enable indefinite useof the same.

Another object is the provision of a refrigerant of relatively low cost,having a large heat absorbent capacity and so housed that the exchangeof heat may be easily regulated to suit conditions.

Another object'is the provision of a simple inexpensive housing for theunit, of a character such thateasy transportation and easy regulation ofthe heat exchange is enabled.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theunit, the housing for the unit, and the composition of the refrigerant.it being understood that various changes in proportion of theformula,and

in the form, proportion, size and minor de- 50 tails of machineconstruction within the 1927. Serial No. 187,448.

scope of the appended claims, may be resorted to without departing fromthe spirit of the invention.

In the drawings forming apart thereof Fig. 1 is a perspective view ofone of the units with the regulating doors open.

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section.

Fig. 3 is an edge view of the cover.

In the present invention, a composition is provided, of a character suchthat it may be readily chilled to a relatively low temperature, andretained in such condition for a relatively long time,,but which infavorable conditions will readily absorb the heat from an article orarticles to be refrigerated, cooling said article or articles to adesired temperature.

This composition is composed of gelatin, 1m arabic, ammonium nitrate,glycerin, de-. natured alchol and water, in about the 'fol- 7 lowingproportions:

Water 1 gal.

Gelatin 1 lb. Gum arabic 1 lb. Ammonium nitrate 1 lb. Glycerin 1 qt.Denatured alcohol lpt.

The composition is prepared by mixing the gelatin and gum arabic with asuitable quantity of Water. The mixture may be heated if desired, andafter cooling, the ammonium nitrate is added. Later the glycerin anddenatured alcohol are stirred into the mixture.

The composition is marketed in suitable unit containers. Thesecontainers are preferably of a size to be received within the ice box ofa refrigerator of known dimensions. The size of the unit is soproportioned with respect to. the size of the ice chamber that space isleft between opposite unit walls and the adjacent walls of the chamberfor a purpose to be presently set forth.

' Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that the unit whatever thesize consists primarily of a closed case or container of cubical formand of sheet metal, the said case being indicated at 1. The case isfilled with the composition, and sealed in any suitable or desiredmanner.

The case of sheet metal is arranged in a jacket of heat insulatingmaterial, such as cork or balsa wood, the latter being preferred becauseof its cheapness and high heat insulating qualities. The jacket consistsof a bottom 2, end walls 3, and sidewalls 4. The

end walls are rigid with the bottom, whilethe side walls are hingedthereto to swing up against thecontainer, or to occupy the position ofFig. 1.

In order tohold the side walls in closed position, suitable holdingmeans is provided. In the present instance this means consists ofslotted latch bars 5, each side wall being provided with two of thebars, The bars are pivotally connected with the side edges of the sidewalls as indicated at 6,"and the slots of the respective bars areengaged by pins 7 on the inner faces of the end walls.

Referring to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the slot 8 of each bar haslateralextensions 9 at.its ends, which provides for locking the sidewall in either Each of the bars the adjacent side wall as shown at 10,for convenience in manipulating the latch bar when moving the sidewalls. v

For convenience in transportingthe unit, a cover 16 is used. The coverrests upon the upper ends of the walls Band 4, and has means indicatedat 15 to engage the extensions 10 of the latch bars, thereby to connectthe'cover with the jacket.

That end wall 3 of the jacket which may be considered as the front ofthe unit has an opening 11 of-rectangular form, exposing a part of thefront wall of thecase 1. If desired, the unit may have an opencompartment 12 formed therein at this opening 11 to receive a drawer 13.As shown the drawer is provided with partitions 14 forming a pluralityof compartments, 'and it has a suitable handle for manipulating thesame. Water may be placed in the compartments and frozen into blocks ofice.

As previously mentioned, the size and shape of the units is governed bythe size and shape of the ice box of a refrigerator of known dimensions.Units for the different types of refrigerators are of a size and shapeto fit within the ice box of the refrigerator loosely, and with spacebetween the side walls of the unit and the adjacent walls of the icechamber, from two to four inches being sufficient. I

The units are transported by means of the cover, and are-placed in theice box in the same manner as a block of ice is placed. The

hooks of the cover are then released, and the Wh cover is removed, theice chamber bein closed in the usual manner. The top of the unit is openso far as concerns the heat insulating jacket, and an exchange of heattakes place between the unit and the interior of the refrigerator.

open or closed position. extends outwardly beyond This exchange isrelatively rapid at first, but gradually lessens as the temperature ofthe refrigerator interior approaches that of the unit. After a definiteperiod of time during which the exchange of heat is at aminimum, becauseof the fact that the temperature of the refrigerator is substantiallythe same as that of the exposed areas of the unit, the temperature maybegin to rise. At

of use in substantially the same manner as ice is used. A unit of thesize to fit the ice chamber ofthe refrigerator of a customer is suppliedat suitable intervals, the exhausted unit being removed and returned forregeneration. In refrigerators having me cham bers of larger size,several units may be placed in the chamber if desired. Preferably thejacket of the unit is cooled also, this assisting in the cooling of therefrigerator when the unit is first inserted.

When a 'unitis placed in the ice chamber of a refrigerator with the sidewalls 4 closed, only the top and a part of the front of the casing isavailable for heat exchange, and it will be obvious that the opening 11might be closed if desired. After a length of time the duration of whichdepends upon many factors, the relative temperature of theunit and theinterior of the refrigerator is such that there is little or no exchangeof'heat.

During another period of time, the duration of which also depends onseveral factors, the temperature of the refrigerator will rise to apoint higher than is desirable. That is the exposed portions of the unithave absorbed enough heat so that such portions are at substantially thesame temperature as the interior of the refrigerator. Further exchangemust be byconductivity from the re mote parts of the unit through theparts which have already given up their cold, and which act asinsulation for the remote parts.

en new surfaces of the casing wall are exposed by opening the doors orside walls 4 the exchange of heat becomesmore rapid, and the temperatureof the refrigerator is lowered. en the unit is finally exhausted it maybe removed and replaced by another.

What is claimed as new is:

1. As an article of manufacture, a gelat inous mixture of high heatconductivity,

solidifying at a relatively low temperature,

and composed of gelatin, gum arabic, am-

monia nitrate, glycerin, denatured alcohol and water in substantiallythe proportions set forth, and a closed container of heat conductingmaterial for the mixture.

2. As an article of manufacture, a refrigers ating mixture of high heatconductivity, solidifying at a relatively low temperature, and composedof a gelatin, gum arahie, ammonia nitrate, glycerin, denatured alcoholand water, in substantially. the proportions set forth.

3.. As an article of manufacture, a refrigerating mixture of high heatconductivity, solidifying at a relatively low temperature, and composedof a gelatin, gum arabic, ammonia nitrate, glycerin,- denatured alcoholand water, in substantially the following proportions; water, 1 gal,gelatin, gum arabic, ammonia nitrate, 1 lb. each, glycerin, 1 qt.,denatured alcohol, 1 pt.

Signed at New York city in the county of New York and State of New Yorkthis 27th day of April A. D. 1927.

ISIDOR BERTRAM Ross.

